fletcher



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

E. J. FLETCHER.' GASBOB, BOX FUR SILVERWARB, 6m.

`Patented June 2, 1896.

ANDREW B GRAHAM.PHOTO-LITHQWASNINGTDN D C (No Model.) 2 Sheets-She'ejt2. E. J. FLETCHER.

OASE 0B BOX FOR SILVERWARE, &c. No; 561,384. Patented June 2, 1896.Y

NTTnD STATES PATENT union.

EDVIN J. FLETCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSICNOR TO THE XVIHTINGMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASE OR BOX FOR SILVERWARE, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,384, dated J une 2,1896.

Application filed October l, 1895.

To @ZZ whom z5 may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. FLETCHER, a citizen ofthe United States,residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cases or Boxes forSilverware and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

It is usual to inclose articles of silverware, jewelry, out glass, the.,especially the larger individual pieces, in nicely-finished cases orboxes. Those now generally used are expensive to manufacture and theircost adds considerably to the price of articles sold in boxes.

The object of my invention is to greatly cheapen the cost of manufactureand to produce boxes which shall be light, strong, and durable and inall respects as rich and attractive in appearance as the more expensiveboxes'made by the old methods.

The principal portions of my box are of thin wood. The body isrectangular with rounded corners, formed by bending the wood at thosepoints. The bed-frame inclosing the padded surface upon which thearticle rests is formed like the body, but is smaller and is secured tothe base. The body is attached to the base by a hinge-jointalong oneedge and forms a cover. The whole is nicely iinished by covering withleather, leatherette, paper, or other material so applied and joined asto conceal the edges of the covering and produce a peculiarly rich andtasty appearance. j

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of a box constructed accordingto my invention. Fig. 2 is a corresponding end view. Fig. 8 is a sectionof a portion showing the joint between the top and body. Fig. et is asimilar View showing the base. Fig. 5 shows the hinge connection. Figs.3, et, and 5 are on a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectionshowing a modification. Fig. 7 shows a modified forni of the hinge.Figs. S and 9 are views of the body and bed-frame as seen from abovebefore the covering is applied. Fig. l0 is an edge view, on a smallscale, showing the board before bending. Fig. ll is a simi- Serial No.564,298. (No model.)

lar view of a portion on a larger scale. 12 is a face view of abase-piece.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A* is a thin strip of any suitable wood, having its ends beveled orscarfed to match together to form a smooth joint, and having groups ofparallel transverse grooves cut partly through at points where the stripis to be bent in forming it into a rectangle with rounded corners. Thegrooves may be produced by passing the strip over 4projecting Vshapedcutters or saws arranged in a suitable table in corresponding groups ona revolving shaft. The V-grooves so formed are filled with glue and thescarfed ends similarly coated. The strip is then bent in a suitable moldor around a former or otherwise into a hollow rectangle. The scarfedends are nicely fitted together and the whole firmly held until the gluehas set. The number of V-grooves in each group and the angles of thesides of the grooves are so proportioned that the act of bending bringsthe sides together and results in a nearly smooth and uniform interiorsurface. Vhen sufficiently dry, the hollow rectangle, intended to serveas the body portion of a case, is treated by a suitable tool to form therounded upper edge of the body A and leave the extreme upper face iiat,as at ct. The sharp angle at the outer corner of the lower edge, isremoved by similar treatment and the body is ready to be covered.

The top B is a piece of thin board having the proper dimensions androunded corners to match to the bodies A. The edges are worked by handor machinery to remove the sharp corner from the face which is to lieuppermost and smoothly round it off on an oval curve. is longer andwider to project a little on all sides and has both upper and loweredges rounded.

The bed-frame D is made from a strip having the cross-section shown, andis V-grooved, scarfed, and formed into rectangular framesA of the propersize in a manner similar to that described in treating bodies A.l

l will describe thecovering material and Fig.

The base C is similarly formed, but

IOO

lining as paper, unless otherwise stated; but it will be understood thatleather, leatherette, plush, velvet, silk, or other materials may beused singly or combined, if preferred.

The body A is coated with paste on the exterior and upper and loweredges and extending a short distance upward on the interior. A strip Eof paper wider than the height of the body is similarly coated on oneside and smoothly applied around the body A, with its upper edge nearlycoinciding with the upper edge of the body and its lower edge extendingunder and up a short distance on the interior. A lining-strip G ofstrawboard of a width a little less than the height of the body is cutto a length to match closely within the latter when bent to shape andits ends abutted. It is covered on the interior face and both edges by astrip G of the same or different paper extending over the edge andlapping a little upon the interior surface and is pasted to the innersurface of the body A with its lower edge iush therewith and forming atthe upper edge an offset G2. The top B receives a pasted sheet l on itsupper face,

the edges e' being turned under slightly on all sides.

A piece of strawboard G3, having a length and width a little less thanthe top, receives a covering-piece G4 on its under face and is thenpasted or glued securely upon the under face of the top B, forming anoffset G5 all around. Glue is then applied to the offset G2 and the topplaced in position upon the body A, the offset G5 matching to and nearlyfilling the offset G2 and forcing the glue upward under the overhungedge of the top and securing the latter to the Hat portion a, formed onthe upper surface of the rounded edge to receive it. Thus put togetherthe edges of the covering material are completely concealed, exceptingthe overlapping end of the strip E, which is made to come at the back.The edges e and g5 at the top lie in that joint and the edges g4 g liein the offset, while the lower edge e of the outer covering and thelower edge g of the lining-piece G lie against each other in the jointbetween the liningpiece and body.

The base() is coated on the under side with paste and receives a sheet Hsufficiently large to cover it and be turned over the edges a littledistance and be secured upon the upper surface along the margins. Theraw edge h is hidden by a piece of strawboard J, having a strip J ofgilt or other paper folded over and pasted upon its edges to form anornamental piping' pasted to lthe upper surface of the base C, and is inturn covered by a similar but smaller piece K of strawboard with itsedges covered by a strip K and glued upon the piece J.

The bed-frame D has a strip L pasted upon its outer surface and turnedunder below and over the upper edge. A strawboard strip L', matching tothe interior of the bed-frame, carries the bed-covering L2, of silk orother rich fabric, secured to the outer face of the strip L. The latteris then coated with paste and applied within the bed-frame, which,having received the cotton padding L2, covered by the silk, is ready tobe glued upon the piece K, and thus secured to the base C. The raw edgeZ2 of the silk and the upper edge Z of the strip L are concealed betweenthe strip L and the bed-frame D, and the lower edge Z of the strip Llies under the frame.

The outer face of the bed-frame is curved, as shown, from the narrowupper edge to a perpendicular near the lower edge to allow the body toswing clear in lifting and also to be held in the closed condition bythe slight friction between the straight portion and the inner surfaceof the body when forced to place. The hinging of the body A to the baseis effected, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, by a strip of strong fabric M,glued to the under face of the body at the rear and to the under surfaceof the bed-frame, the fold lying at the eXtreme rear edge. A strip ofsimilar material is strongly glued between the interior face of the bodyand its lining-piece G to form a stop M' to prevent the body swingingtoo far backward and endangering the hinge. The free edges of the stripsM and M are joined by gluing or they maybe in one piece folded, as shownin Fig. 7, and are secured in' proper position upon the under side ofthe bed-frame D. The whole lower face of the latter and that portion ofthe fabric strips are then coated with glue and fastened to the piece Kand the box set away to thoroughly dry.

I have shown an ornamental cord R lying in the joint between the top andbody and secured by gluing. It covers the joint, and may in solne easesbe preferable, but is not essential.

It will be observed that the lower edge of the strip E at the back isnot turned in to lie between the body A and strip G, but is extendedupon the piece K beneath the hinge, forming part of the latter andconcealing the fabric from view. The strip E maybe turned in, as at thefront, or may be pasted to the back edges of the pieces J and K andturned under and be secured beneath the base.

lt is important that the salient angles of the body, top, base, andbed-frame be smoothly rounded, for the reason that such rounding addsgreatly to the richness of the appearance by producing an effect ofincreased thickness in the covering material. Invorder that this effectbe not dispelled by showing the real thickness of the covering, theedges of the latter are carefully concealed in the joints between themembers.

Various modifications may be made in the forms and proportions and inthe details of construction. Fig. G shows a boX in which the strip G iscarried to the upper edge of the body A and the piece G3 dispensed with.This form also shows an ornamental strip lying within the bed-frame D,between the latter IOO IIO

and the silk covering L2, and the piping .I is omitted. The piece K mayalso be dispensed with and the bedr-frame be secured directly upon thebase C.

The outline of the body and other portions may be varied from therectangular form with rounded corners here shown.

The straight sides may be hollowed or swelled and the basecorrespondingly curved.

The covering and lining may be varied or dispensed with in part and thebox finished by painting or varnishing the natural wood. The paper:referred to in the foregoing is preferably what is known as embossed orfigured paper having a rich finish and well adapted forl this purpose.In more expensive Vboxes the outer covering may be fine kidleather withan inner covering of the same or different material.

Metal hinges may be used, if preferred, or they may be of leather orpaper reinforced with strong muslin. Any suitable lock or catch may beused to hold the body to the base at the front in addition to thefriction between the surfaces.

Boxes made in accordance with my invention may be manufactured inquantities at small cost. The main parts are machineworked and do notrequire skilled labor. The covering and assembling may be facilitated byusing properly-shaped forms and other appliances and require only theskill and care usually exercised by ordinary paper-box makers.

As constructed,there is little danger of glue exudin g from the jointsand defacing the coverin g. The glue joining the top B to the body A isapplied in the offset G2 andv is not liable to extend beyond the joint.The base C and the pieces J and K thereon need not be coated to theextreme edges, and the bedframe D may be fastened by a line of glue notextend ing to the outer face.

, be any suitable cement.

The tops and bases may be formed from sheets of wood or strawboard laidface to face and shaped by a cutter or suitable die.

Other material than wood may be used for the bodies.

The strawboard strip shown in Fig. G between the bed-frame and silk may,if preferred, be placed outside the bed-frame, the proportions of theparts being changed to cor respond.

The joint at the base may be concealed by a cord similar to the cord Rat the top.

That I have described as paste or glue may It may be applied to thestiff surfaces only and the thin previously-dampened paper be securedthereto without being coated.

I claim as my inventionl. In a case orboxfor silverware or the like, abase, abcd-frame secured to the base, a body matching to the bed-frameand a top secured to the body, each of said members having the salientangles thereof smoothly rounded, and a thin covering of 'Iiexiblematerial applied on the exterior faces of each of such members, theedges of the said covering material being concealed in the jointsbetween the sev eral members, all combined and arranged to servesubstantially as herein specified.

2. In a case or box for silverware and the like, the bodyhaving roundedcorners formed by grooving transversely and bending at those points, andhaving the ends fastened, in combination with a top matching to thebody, a base to which the body is secured, and a bedframe attached tothe base and matching thereto and lying within the body, allsubstantially as herein specified.

3. In a case or box for silverware and the like, the bed-frame havingrounded corners formed by groovin g transversely and bending at thosepoints and having the ends joined and fastened, and a strip covering theouter surface and upper and lower edges, in combination with a base towhich the said bedframe is secured and a body matching to and inclosingthe bed-frame, all substantially as herein specified.

4. In a case or box for silverware and the like, the body having roundedupper edges, and rounded corners formed by grooving transversely andbending at those points, and having the ends joined and fastened, incombination with a top matching to the body, a base to which the body isattached and a bedframe secured to the base and lying within the bodyand having its corners rounded by grooving transversely and bending tomatch to and be inclosed by the body, all substantially as hereinspecified.

5. In a case or box, the body A, strip E cov ering its exterior andupper and lower edges, and the liningstrip G matching to and in closedby the body, in combination with the top B, sheet E' covering its uppersurface and edges, all substantially as herein specified.

6. In a case or box, the body A, strip E covering its exterior and upperand lower edges, and the lining-strip G matching to and inclosed by thebody, the covering-strip G on the inner face and edges of saidlining-strip,

the height of the latter being less than the body, to form an offset G2,in combination with the top B sheet E covering its upper surface IOO IIO

andu edges, and the piece G3 and its covering v G4, secured to the underface of the top and smaller than the latter to form an offset G5matching to the said offset G2, all substantially as herein specified.

7. In a case or box, the body A and the strip E covering its exteriorand upper and lower edges, and the lining-strip G matching to andinclosed by the body, the strip G covering the inner face and upper andlower edges of said lining-strip, the height of the latter being lessthan the body to form an offset G2, in combination with the top B andsheet E covering its upper surface and edges, and the piece G3 and itscovering G4, secured to the under face of the top and smaller than thelatter to form an offset G5 matching to the IZO said offset G2, and theoord R covering the joint between the top and body, all substantially asherein specified.

S. The base C and its covering-sheet, and the piece K having its edgescovered by strip K and secured to the base, in combination with thebed-frame D and its covering-strip L, secured to said piece K, allsubstantially as herein specified.

9. The base C and the sheet Il ooveringits under surface and edges, thepiece J having its edges covered by the strip J secured to the base, andthe piece K and strip K eovering the edges of the latter, in combinationwith the bed-frame D and its covering-strip L and bed-Covering L2, allsubstantially as herein specified.

10. The body A and covering E therefor, lining-piece G and its coveringG', top B, covering-sheet E', piece G3 and its covering-sheet G,seoured'to the under face of said top, in combination with the base CCovering-sheet H therefor, pieces J and K having their edges covered bythe strips J and K, the bed-frame D covering L and bed-Covering L2, andthe hinge M connecting the body and base, all substantially as hereinspeoied.

1l. In a oase or boX for silverware and the like, the body A and base Gin combination With a oonneetinghinge Consisting of the strip M securedto the body and folded as shown the strip M attached to the innersurface of the body, the strips being joined at their unattaehed edgesand secured thereby to the base, the said strip M extending across thejoint to forni a stop, all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I elaiin the invention above set forth I at'ix mysignature in presenee of tWo Witnesses.

- EDVIN J FLETCHER.

/Vitnesses:

Roer.` CONNOR, WM. B. JAMES.

